Acupuncture for neck and shoulder pain

What neck and shoulder pain is

Neck and shoulder pain are among the most common problems Robert treats. Long hours at a keyboard and looking down at a phone are now normal, and many people carry that strain as pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders.

Muscle tension is the most common cause. Other causes include a pinched nerve, wear on the disks in the neck and injuries such as whiplash or a fall. A pinched nerve can send pain, tingling or numbness down the arm.

Shoulder pain can also come from the rotator cuff, the group of muscles and tendons that holds the shoulder joint in place. Rotator cuff injuries are often sports-related. Kayaking, rock climbing, baseball and weight lifting are common culprits.

How Robert treats neck and shoulder pain

Robert is a certified practitioner of Toyohari, a Japanese style of meridian therapy. He trained in Japan in 2006 and 2007. He begins with careful pulse reading, then gives a gentle whole-body treatment with very fine needles and light contact. Many patients barely feel the needles.

For neck and shoulder pain, he adds a few fine needles in the tight or sore areas. The aim is to release muscle tension, ease pressure around irritated nerves and reduce pain and inflammation. Many patients find their neck turns more easily and their shoulders drop away from their ears.

For rotator cuff injuries, acupuncture can help ease pain and support healing, especially alongside physical therapy. If the tendon is badly torn, surgery may be needed. Acupuncture can then be part of rehab and pain care after surgery.

For a stiff shoulder that feels cold and achy, Robert may add moxibustion, a warming therapy that uses the herb mugwort. He sometimes suggests a Chinese herbal formula for long-standing pain. He sees one patient at a time, so there is time to talk about what is going on.

Research suggests acupuncture can help with chronic neck and shoulder pain. A 2012 analysis of acupuncture for chronic pain pooled data from trials on back and neck pain, osteoarthritis, chronic headache and shoulder pain. Its authors concluded that acupuncture is effective for chronic pain.

What a course of treatment looks like

Your first visit takes about 75 minutes. Robert asks about your health history, your work and activities, and how the pain started. Then he reads your pulse and gives your first treatment. Return visits take about 45 minutes.

Many people come for a series of 5 to 10 weekly sessions. A recent strain may need fewer. Pain that has built up over years, or a shoulder injury, may take longer. Robert checks your progress as you go and talks with you about how often to come.

When to see a doctor first

Get emergency care right away if neck, shoulder or arm pain comes with chest pressure, shortness of breath or sweating. Do the same for a stiff neck with fever and a severe headache.

See a doctor before starting acupuncture if you have:

• Neck pain after a car accident, fall or blow to the head
• Numbness, tingling or weakness in the arm or hand that is getting worse
• Clumsy hands, trouble walking or problems with balance
• A shoulder you suddenly cannot lift after an injury, or a joint that looks out of place
• Fever or unexplained weight loss along with your pain

Related conditions

Neck and shoulder pain often overlaps with headaches and migraines, carpal tunnel and hand pain and car-accident injuries.